Cathode ray tube apparatus



P. H. ALLEN ETAL CATHODE RAY TUBE APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 20, 1945July 21, 1959 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TORS.

July 21,1959

P. H. ALLEN ETAL CATHODE RAY TUBE APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 20, 19455 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

y 5 P. ALLEN ETAL 2,

CATHODE RAY TUBE APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sht 5IN VEN TORS respectively connected to the terminals 66 to 74 of thevoltage dividing resistor 75 The terminal 74 of this resistor is alsoconnected to ,the terminal 76 of the potentiometer 77, andqthe variablecontactor 78 of this potentiometer is connected to the positive terminalof the cathode ray beam deflecting battery 79. The negative terminal ofthis battery is connected to the deflector plate 80 of the cathode raytube and the deflector plate 81, associated with the plate 80, isconnected through a variable resistor 82 to the contact electrode bus56. i

An additional set of deflector electrodes 83 and 84 is provided in thecathode raytube for. the purpose of applying the initiating or 'firingpulse to the electron beam of the'cathode ray tube and, moving this beamfrom its initial position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.These auxiliary deflector electrodes 83and 84 are connected to thepickup coil 86 thr ough switches 87 and 88. The switch 87-is adapted tobe closed whenever any oneof the keys 86 to 44, inclusive, is closed.Switch 88 is a carn operated switch adapted to be closed by the cam 90only during one-half of the revolution of the shaft 89, so that aninitiating pulse of only a predetermined polarity is applied to theauxiliary deflector electrodes 83-84. v s

The shaft 89 is a part of the cycling or firing pulse means, and hasmounted thereon a permanent magnet 91, which in the full cycle positionof theparts, occupies the position shown in Figure l with respect to thepickup coil 86. The shaft 89 is adapted to be cyclically driven by meansof a cyclic clutch 92 from an electric motor 93. The cyclic clutch 92 isof conventional construction, being generally of the character disclosedin the patent to Carl M. Friden, No. 2,279,455, dated April 14, 1942,and produces one or more complete cycles of movement of the shaft 89,the cam 90 and the magnet 91.

The indirectly heated cathode 11, control electrode 14a, anode 14forming parts of the electron gun and vertically deflecting electrodes80 and 81 of the cathode ray tube 10 may be of generally the sameconstruction as corresponding partsof cathode ray tubes nowmanufactured. The quenching or de-focusing electrode 16 may bepositioned on either aided the anode 14, that is, it may be positionedeither between the anode 14 and the auxiliary deflecting electrodes 83,84 or between the anode 14 and the cathode 11. Furthermore, theauxiliary deflecting electrodes 83, 84 may, if desired, be positionedbetween the anode 14 and the de-focusing or quenching electrode 16, orthey may be positioned on the other side of the deflector plates 80, 81.

The cathode ray tubes 110 and 210, shown in Fig. 3, are of the sameconstruction as the cathode ray tube 10. The respective parts of thecathoderay tubes 10, 110 and 210 are similarly numbered and thecorresponding reference numerals applied to the tubes 10 and 110 andassociated apparatus are numbered so. as to differ by 100, for example,the electrode of the tube 10 designated by reference numeral 83correspondsto the electrode 183 of the tube 110. Likewise, the referencenumerals applied to the tubes 110 and 210 and the corresponding partsdiffer by 100 so that the corresponding electrode of the tube 210 isdesignated by reference numeral 283.

The electrical pulses produced by the selection tube, 10 as the cathoderay beam transmitted by the electron gun of this tube is stepped acrossa predetermined number of pairs of the contact electrodes 47 and 65,inclusive, may be. utilized for controlling other circuits such asdisclosed in the parent application, Serial No. 611,608.

It will be seen by reference to the drawings that the contactors of thetube 10 are divided into two sets, one set being connected to themanually settable keys 36 to 44, inclusive, and the other set beingconnected to the voltage dividing resistor 75. It will be observed thatone side of each of these sets of contactors is connected to one of thecommon buses 17 or 56.

The above described circuit and associated parts comprise a cyclicallyoperable selection means of one order in which any selected number ofelectrical pulses from one to nine may be produced during each cycle ofoperation.

To condition the selection circuit for operation, one of the keys 36 to44, is depressed to representxthe valve to be enteredinto the machine.For example, if the number 3 is to be entered into the machine, the key38, or number 3 key is depressed. This setting of the respective keysconditions the units order to produce three electrical pulses for eachcycle of operation, as will be apparent from the following description.

The number of times the item is to be entered into the register iscontrolled by the number of rotations of the shaft 89, i.e., the numberof rotations of the permanent magnet 91 with respect to the pickup coils86, the number of cycles being controlled by the length'of' time theclutch 92 is maintained engaged. i i

With the parts conditionedlas described above, the clutch 92 is engagedto cause one cycle of operation of the selection mechanism, i.e.,onerotation of the shaft 89, the cam 90 and the magnet 91. In 'the'positionof the parts shown in Fig. 1, the switch 88 associatedwith' theleads'to the pickup coil 86are open, being engaged with the low portionsof the cam 90. With this condition of the parts the south poleof themagnet 91 is inelfective with respect to the associatedpickup coil 86.During the rotation of the shaft 89 and the cam 90, the. switch 88 isclosed for approximately one-half cycle be ginning about 90 from the,full cycle position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 and continuing forapproximately 180 of rotation thereafter so that the switch 88 is closedto enable the respective circuits for the pickup coil 86 as the northpole of the magnet 91 is sweeping past the associated pickup coil.

As a part of conditioning this apparatus for operation, it is also to beassumed that the current supply battery 13 controls electrode battery15a,,and the anode battery 15 is connected so that the cathode ray beamof the tube 10 is on and impinging against the rest position 85 thereof.

The effect of the rotation of the north pole of the magnet 91 pastassociated pickup coil 86 is to apply an electrical pulse to theauxiliary deflector plates of electrodes 83, 84 of tube 10 to raise thebeam from its rest position 85 to impinge upon and close the circuitbetween:

the contacts 47 and 57, the electronflow from the electron emissivesurfaces of one of these contacts effectively closes the circuittherebetween so" that the terminal 66.

of the voltage dividing resistor 75 is connected through the contacts57, 47 to, the electrode bus 56'through the variable resistor 82 to themain deflector plate 81, the cooperating deflector plate beingconnectedto one side of the battery 79. The other side of the battery 79is connected to one side of the variable impedance 75a,

and the other side of this impedance is connected to the variablecontactor 78 of the resistor 77, the upper terminal 76 of which isconnected to the terminal 74 of the voltage divider 75 so that apotential is applied between the plates 80 and 81 across resistor 80asufiicient to raise the cathode ray beam from the contacts .47. and 57to the contacts 48 and 58. When the circuit between the contacts 47 and57' is closed, a pulse is supplied to the circuit of the potentiometer77 across the gas tube 77a to be transmitted to a suitable utilizingcircuit.

It will be noted that in raising the beam from the con-f tacts 47, 57 tothe contacts 48,,58, it has passedacross the contacts 18-27 and closedthecircuits therebetween. However, the circuit including these contactsis open at the key 36 so that no result obtains. When the beam impingesupon the contacts 48, 58, anotherpulse is ap-..

plied to the utilizing circuitthrough the portion of the potentiometerbetween the terminal 76 and the variable contactor At the same time theportion of the voltv age .divid'er-betweemthe terminal66and thev tap.457 is bypassed and as 2 1mm: a higher 'volta'g'e is' appliedlfroin'the. .source .f 79 to the deflector plates. 80' "and {11 across theresistorf "80a :this 'fh'igher voltage being, sufiicient to move or"deflect ,thejcathode ray. beam from the, electrodes 48 58, 5 across theelectrodes 19,"'-2 8l}1 1 id to' the, 'electrodes 49 s9. Since the key37 is open "f producedwhen the .beam is swept. across the tides '19' -28 However, a third 'pulse' im pr' es s ed porilthe utilizing circuitthrough theportion" of the. potentiometer 77 between the terminal 7 6and the variablecontactor 78. When the beam of the cathode ray tube jwasmo a to impinge upon the -.contacts or electrodes ,f19 +59 ,,;thesection vof the yolta ger divider 75 between the. taps ,67 and 68 wasbypassed, as well as the previously by-passed section between theterminal 66 and tab 6 7 so that the vo t appliedv betw n the d fle rp1atesv80 andw8l across resistor 80a, isagain increased. ,The beamisagain moved or deflected upward However, it willcbe noted that the key38 is depressed and the contacts thereof closedrso thatgwhen the, beamof the cathode rayhtube impinges upon the electrodes 20-29 in, itsupward move? ment iteffectively closes the gap. between thes ettwocon:tacts and .a negative potential is applied upon the quench.- ing orde-focusing electrode 16 so that the beam of the cathode ray tube isdefocused, quenched or substantially quenched and as a result thecircuit between the electrodes 20--29 is open thereby removingthequenching potential from the electrode 16. However, it will be observedthat the potential from the battery 7 9 also removed from the deflectorelectrode 81 so"that"when the beam of the'c'atho de ray tube is're-established it impinges upon the'res'tposition 85'andwillfcontinue'f'to impinge upon'lthis position until another pulse isapplied to the auxiliary deflector electrodes 83, ,84',,a's previouslydescribed.

It will be observed that the stepping, of the cathode ray beam of theselection tube "10 is' automatic once it was raised or deflectedfr'oinit's rest position: 85 @to the first pair of contactors 29connected to the depressed key 38. Very rapid stepping of the 'bea m i sobtained in this manner and the rapidity of this beampsteppin'g maybe"controlled by the choke 75a' which"in ay be a variable inductance,This choke 75a'inay be'ia resistor shunted condenser, if desired, "thecondeuservbeing charged by thewelectri'c pulse froin'the battery 79ambeing 'di's chargedjthroug'h' the resistor shunt; "1 The conductor?connected to the" common bus Q45 ofth'e]. manually'settable key/s36 to"'44, ificlus'ive,"iis shown aseenneeteaj to the negative terminal of thebattery 15 and the ,fc'athode "11 is also: shown as 1;on'ne c'tfed tothis sa'mel' terminal; Accordingly, when" the 'd'e' focusing orquenching electrode 16 is energized itis. in effect connected to thecathodllL It is obvious. that the, cathode. 11" maybe connected, to

some intermdiatepoint of the battery 15 by means. of tapsior' asuitablevoltage c'livide'rlso that ,theelectrode'f16 maybe madeneg'ativewith respect to the cathdde"when it is "energized. However, undercertain conditions it may lnot'ib'e desirable to maketh'e electrode .16'more negativethan the'cathode since. the mpqseior this invene tion "may'be" accomplished san ly'by' de-focu'singl vthe beam and thismay beaccomplished by making the'electrode 1 6 negative with rspect to'the.anode "'1'4.

The beam" ofithe cathode'fray ltube' 10 'ir'iay' efocused oradjlistedfs'o that it is, suliicie'ntlylargelin 'eife'c Iei crosssection to he'v'ablejt'o establish the circuitb'et'wee agfoup of;e1eetre tes,1 "siihf as; electrode 47+57 aiid [18%;] similltaneously,,Ian'd 'this r'way .the ;.quenchinfg "or Idesoon ds the beflin H nidijedilpfto fihe, of IL ,m V t 4 w an. lu -a In Fig'f'2' is 'shown a modifiedform .of this invention in which the cathode ray be'am devicef employsmagnetic beairtn defiecti'on H [The catho.deray tube ,is providedlecti'ode may, be energiiedias with an ereaiefi" gun 10b for projecting"a Baroda ra is beam consisting of an elongated concentration of elec-'trons 'in' "the "direction of the electrodes 10d. Altern e j'onesfiofthese electrodeszltld are connected to the yoltagef divider "resi tor.10. Interleaved between thee rodes gonnected. to theresistor 10e areelectrodes nncted to the 'switchesf10ffhaving one of the termnal'sithereof connectedito a common, bus bar 10g,; "This bus bar ltlg isconnected to' the positive terminaljof the battery '10h,;and thenegative terminal .of the, battery is connected to the quenchingelectrode ltli whichis positioned in alignment'with the enema gun 10b sothat, the electron beam normally passes through thei aperturefthereof. IThe top terminal of the voltage dividing resistor, I0e' is connected tothe, solenoid 101' employed fordeflecting the beamitlcof the cathode'ray tube, and thefother' terminal of this solenoid is connected to thepositive terminalof the battery 10k,the negative terminalhofthis,batterybeiugfconnected to the positive terminglff the electron gunbattery 10m and the negativel iterm nal of the, latter batteryisconnected to" the cathode'of the electron gun.

The operation of this tubeis substantially the same as that o f'the tubeshown.inFi'g, 1, except that in this case the cathoderfay b'eam 10c isused as a conductor substantially' throughout the length thereof so thatas this beam ltldimpinges upon the electrodes 10d it closes the circuitof thedeflector solenoid 10 Beginning at the bottom elect-rode grategroup 10dand assuming the beam 10c contacts this bottom electrode,current will flow, along the bearn to this bottom, elecrode thencethrough the entire resistor '10e and then through the solenoid'jltljthrough t at ries' 10k ;;a,nd ,10mvto the cathodeof'the electrdn gun.i01 f current il ov v sets up a ma'gnetic field i the 'solenoid 10j 'ofsuch. strength and polarityas to move'thebeam 10c up from the first ofthe'electr'odes 1 0diacross" the isjecondland to the third so that'thenthe currentjflows'hfrom the b'earn to this third electrode an throughthe appropriate, tap. of the resisto r l0e', ,throughthis"resistfor"jand' through the solenoid ,10j and batteries 10k and;"10m, to the icathode' of the elect'ron'rg'un 10b: Since the portion 1of the resistor 10c between. the first and'fthirdelectrodes of the group7 104 is by passed out of the: circuit, the. current flowing through thesolenoid 10jis of increased strength so that the 'magnetic'field' set ithis solenoid is stronger, specifically of such uP streng as to svetaebeam 100 from the third electrode to the fifth electrode of the'group10d, thereby oy-pa'ssing still, anothersection' of the resistor '10e outof'circuit and again: increasing'thelstrehgth of the magnetic field'jof' the solenoidl'tij sufficiently to ra'ise the beam to the seventhelectrode, of the group 10d and repeating this operation instepfbyste'pv fashion increasing the, magnetic field of thesolefioidltli untilthe beam 10c has reached' the second to thetopelectrode of the .group 10d. Thereafter, the bearnv 10c would beIsweptoil of the second to the top velect'r ode 'and the circuitof thesolenoidltljlwould be interrupted, However, in tracing the operation asabove, as c og nizance was taken of the switchesltlfwhich areprovidedtothis apparatus for the purpose .ofcontrolling the scanning operation ofthe -beam[ If it is assumed thatthe, first switch of the group ltl isclosedso that the second'electrlode of t hefgroup 10d is connectedthrough this,switch,.to thepositive terminal of the battery 10h,then"whenlthe;b.eam I is, moved by the solenoid 10 upward from the firstelectrodeof the group 10d it' wo uld contact the, second of tl eseelectrodes and apply an elec tric.,potential to the quenching electrode10i and this quenchingpot ential wouldffunction to effectively inter-Irupt the beam 100,: Since the velectrode 10iiiunctions principallytoapply ,an electrostatic field to disturb the fpc iisjingifof the-beam,100,, this electrode 101 \rnay be enclosed in a sheath 1011 ofinsulating materiaL; such as, BakeliteJQpheno-l condensation resin, v0rthe like 'ona sheathiriateriall which is a very poor conductorpsuch asfBak'elite, impregnated with graphite, and this electrode may besupported upon the mouth ofthe electron gun 10b. It is, ofcourse,obviousthat the electron beam 10c will be shifted instep by step fashionup over the electrodes 10d until it impinges upon an electrode connectedto one of the switches 10f that is closed. When the beam 100 contacts anelectrode connected to a closed switch of the group 10f, the beam isquenched, as outlined above. In this way the tube 10a may be usedtoproduce a selected number of pulses, depending upon which of theswitches 10 is closed, andthe desired number of pulses may be utilized,as previously described in connection with tube 10 in a suitableutilization circuit.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 3 is designed to provide successivetriggering of a series or cascade oftubes 10, 110 and 210, which aresimilar in construction tothe tube 10 shown in Figure 1, from the lowertube 10to the higher orders 110 and 210 after an initial triggeringpulse is applied to the lowest order tube 10. .The circuit also includesmeans for automatically re-cycling of the successive triggering pulsesso that any selected number of cycles of operation of the calculatingapparatus can be performed. 3

Immediately above the electrodes 1462 'andv1463 of tube 10 are a pair ofelectrodes 1466 and 1467 which are similar to the pair of quenchingelectrodes 18-27 and are similarly controlled by a zero key 1468 so thatwhen the beam closes the contacts 1466-1467, aquenching or de-focusingpotential is applied to the quenching electrode 16, as previouslydescribed in connection with the quenching contacts or electrodes 18-27.i

It will be noted that when the pulse is applied to the primary of thetransformer 1464 a corresponding pulse will be induced in the secondaryof this transformer and will be applied to the auxiliary deflectorplates 183-184 of the tens order selection tube 110 to provide atriggering pulse for this tube. Thus, the electron beam of the tube 110will be raised from its rest position 185 to impinge upon the triggeringelectrodes 1472 and 1473 of the tube 110 which are connected in serieswith the secondary of a transformer 1474 through a battery 1475.Immediately above the electrodes 1472-4473, the tube 110 is providedwith a pair of quenchingflcontacts or electrodes 1476-1477 connected inthe circuit of the selection tube 110 in the same manner as theelectrodes 1466-1467 in tube 10. A zero key 1478 is :associated with theelectrodes 1466-1467 to control thequenching circuit from the electrodes1476-1477 to the quenching electrode corresponding to the electrode 16.

When a pulse is produced in the primary of the. transformer 1474, atriggering pulse is induced in the secondary of this transformer and isapplied to the auxiliary asserts deflector plates 283-284 of the thirdor hundreds order of the selection tube 210 so that its electron beamwill be raised from the rest position 285 to operate in conjunction withthe triggering electrodes 1482-1483 and the quenching electrodes1486-1487, in the manner previously described, the quenching electrodesbecoming effective if the zero key 1488 is in switch closing position.

In connection with the operation of the successive triggering pulses,the zero key 1468, 1478 or 1488 of-any order tube is closed only when novalue key inthis order of the keyboard is depressed. In this way thetriggering pulse will be transmitted by a particular order' oftheapparatus that is otherwise idle during a cycle of, operation, and thecathode ray beam thereof will be immediately quenched before it israised sufiiciently to produce a digitation pulse. Where no zero key isemployed the switch control of quenching of the beam may be eflected byproviding a normally closed switch between the contact electrodes1466-1467, for example, and quenching electrode 16,this normally closedswitch being opened when any of the value keys 36 to 44 of the order aredepressed.

The transformers 1464, 1474 and 1484 may be provided with a sufficienttime delay so that, for example, the operation of the units orderselection tube 10 and til its utilization circuit'operation is performedbefore the triggering pulse is applied to the auxiliary deflector plates183-184 of the tube to startthe digitation operation in this secondorder selection tubeand in order to control this time delay,variablecondensers 1464a and 1484a may be connected across thesetransformers 1464, 1474 and 1484, respectively.

Inio'rder' to provide any selected number of successive cycles ofoperation of the selection mechanism, the triggering electrodes1482-1483 of thethird order selection tube 210 are connectedin serieswith the primary of a transformer 1484 througha battery 1485, and thesecondary of this transformerf1484 is connected through a switch 1489 inparallcl with the initial triggering circuit, including the key 1461 andthe battery 1460. In this way, the triggering pulse from thethird orderselection tube 210 will becarried back to the first order selection tube10 to'start another cycle; ofgoperationof the apparatus and repetitionof I this 'cy'cle 0f operation is continuous until the switch 1489 isopened 1 Ti U The circuit shown in Figure'3 for automatic successivecyclic triggering of the apparatus is especially useful for performingmultiplying and dividing operations in a rapid fashion as described inour application, Serial No. 611,608.

...we claim: 1 U a t t l. Cathode ray..tube apparatus comprising acathode ray tube having means for producing a cathode raybeam, a targetfor said beam, deflecting means for moving said beam over saidmtarget,1a source of currentqsupplyrfor energizing saiddeflecting means and meansconnected to said deflecting means and controlled; by;said beam as saidbeam is deflected over said target for causing said beam to move.automatically over said targeta I Cathode ray tube apparatus comprisinga cathode ray tube having means for producing a cathode ray beam andbeam deflecting means, a target for said beam, means for deflecting saidbeam to said target, and means for controlling the deflection ofsaidbeam in accordance with the position of said beam on said targetaftersaid beam is deflected to said target, said last mentionednmeansbeing connected to advance said beam over said target automatically, i I

3.. A cathode ray tube device comprising a cathoderay tube havingmeanslfor producing a cathode fray beam, a target for said beam,deflecting means for moving said beam over. said target, a source ofcurrentlsupplyfor energizing said deflecting means, saidtargetcomprising a series of electrodes connected to said deflecting means andconnections for connecting said electrodes sothat the voltage applied tosaid deflecting meansis' yaried by said beam to cause automatic shiftingof said beam over said target without holding said beam on' any targetposition. n p p i p 4. Cathode ray tube apparatus comprising a cathoderay tube having means for producing a cathode ray beam and beamdeflectingjmeans, a target comprising an array of electrodes for saidbeam, and means for energizing said beam deflecting means in accordance.with the position of said beam on saidtarget, said last mentioned meansbeingconnected to advance said beam over said target aiitoniaticallywithoutholding saidbeam on any target position. H

5. A cathode ray tube device comprising a cathode ray tube having meansfor producing a cathode ray beam and beam deflectingrneans, a targetcomprising an array ofelectrodes, means for applying different voltagesto selected ones of said electrodes, and connections for connecting saidlast mentioned means to said beam deflecting means for energizing saidbeam deflecting means in accordance with the position of said beam onsaid target, said last mentioned means being connected to advance saidbeam over said target automatically without holding said beam on anytarget position.

6. A cathode ray tube device comprising a cathode ray tube having meansfor producing a cathode ray beam, Lil i vi. it at .r ,Li itmfi iu 5.4M Qv ,1-: Mm r l i l a target for saidbeam, deflecting means for movingsaid beam over said target, said target comprising two series ofelectrodes, one of said series having electrodes connected to. saiddeflecting means and means for selectively connecting electrodes in theother series to the cathode of said tube, for controlling the limit ofdeflection and intensity of the beam.

7. Electronic computing apparatus comprising a tube having meansforproducing a stream of electrons and means for deflecting said stream, atarget for receiving said stream, means for selecting the position onsaid target to which said stream is to be deflected, means for renderingsaid stream ineffective after it is deflected to the selected positionand an output circuit for receiving a signal characterized by theposition to which said'stream was deflected.

8. Electronic computing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, furthercharacterized in that the target comprises means connected to said meansfor deflecting the electron stream so that said stream is automaticallydeflected to a predetermined extent.

9. Electronic computing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, furthercharacterized in that the means for rendering the stream ineffectivecomprises an auxiliary electrode connected to an array of electrodesincluded in said target.

10. Electronic computing apparatus comprising a tube having means forproducing a stream of electrons and electromagnetic means for deflectingsaid stream, a target for receiving said stream, means for selecting theposition on said target to which said stream is to be deflected ineffecting a computing operation, means for rendering said streamineffective after it is deflected to the selected position and an outputcircuit for receiving a signal characterized by the position of saidstream when it was rendered ineffective.

11. Electronic computing apparatus comprising a tube having means forproducing a stream of electrons, electrode means on which said stream isadapted to be impinged, electromagnetic means for sweeping said streamover said electrode means, means for selecting the position on saidelectrode means to which said stream is to be swept in effecting acomputing operation, means for rendering said stream ineffective afterit is swept to the selected position and an output circuit for receivinga signal characterized by the position to which said stream was swept.

12. Electronic computer apparatus comprising cathode ray tube having aseries of contacts adapted to be closed by the cathode ray beam ineffecting a computing operation, means connected to said tube responsiveto the closing of one set of contacts to cause stepping of the beam ofsaid tube to another set of contacts.

13. Electronic computer apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube havingelectromagnetic beam deflecting means and having a series of contactsadapted to be impinged by the cathode ray beam in effecting a computingoperation, means responsive to the impinging of said beam upon selectedones of said contacts by said beam to alter the energization of saidelectromagnetic deflecting means and cause shifting of the beam toimpinge upon a different one of said contacts.

14. Electronic computer apparatus comprising a chain of cathode raytubes, each of said tubes having a series of target contacts adapted tobe closed by the cathode ray beam thereof, means for connecting saidcathode ray tubes so that the beams of said tubes are automaticallycaused to step across the series of contacts thereof, and

means for initiating the stepping of the beam of the first tube of saidchain.

15. Electronic computer apparatus comprising a chain of cathode raytubes, each of said tubes having a series of target contacts adapted tobe impinged by the cathode ray beam in minor cycles of operation, meansfor each of said tubes for controlling the minor cycle of operation "10thereof, means for initiating the operation of the first tube of saidchain, and means for connecting said cathode ray tubes so that the beamsof said tubes are automatically controlled to perform their minor cyclesof operation after the operation of the first tube of the chain isinitiated.

16. Electronic computer apparatus as set forth in claim 15, furthercharacterized in that selected ones of said cathode ray tubes areprovided with auxiliary beam deflecting means and the auxiliary beamdeflecting means of one of said tubes is coupled to selected targetcontacts of the preceding tube in the chain.

17. Electronic computer apparatus as set forth in claim 15, furthercharacterized in that each of said tubes is provided with meansresponsive to the beam thereof for producing a predetermined number ofelectric pulses in each minor cycle thereof.

18. Electronic computer apparatus as set forth in claim 15, furthercharacterized in that each of said tubes is provided with adjustablemeans responsive to the beam thereof for producing a predeterminednumber of electric pulses in each minor cycle thereof.

19. Cathode ray tube apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube havingmeans for producing a cathode ray beam and beam deflecting means, atarget for said beam, said beam deflecting means having means fordeflecting said beam to said target, and means connected to said beamdeflecting means and controlled by said beam for progressivelydeflecting said beam.

20. In a calculating device the combination of a cathode ray beam tube,said cathode ray beam tube having means for producing a cathode ray beamand auxiliary deflector means and main deflector means and a pluralityof sets of electrodes, said electrodes being mounted in' said cathoderay beam tube and being adapted to be swept by the beam thereof, asource of potential connected to said main deflector plates through oneof the aforesaid sets of electrodes so; that predetermined potentialsfrom said source are applied to said main deflectors through said oneset of the aforesaid electrodes, a beam controlling electrode positionedin said tube, said beam controlling electrode being connected to saidother set of said electrodes, a plurality of manually settable devicesconnected to said other set of electrodes for controlling said beamthrough pre-selected eectrodes of said other set, and means for applyingan initiating pulse to said auxiliary deflectors for initiating thesweeping of the beam of said cathode ray beam device over saidelectrodes for the production of a predetermined number of electricalpulses.

21. In a calculating device the combination of a cathode ray beam tube,said cathode ray beam tube having means for producing a cathode ray beamand auxiliary deflector means and main deflector means and a pluralityof sets of electrodes including a first set and a second set, saidelectrodes being mounted in said cathode ray beam tube and being adaptedto be swept by the beam thereof, a source of potential connected to saidmain deflector plates through the first set of the aforesaid sets ofelectrodes so that predetermined potentials from said source are appliedto said main deflectors to eifect sweeping of the cathode ray beam fromone electrode of said first set to the next, a beam controllingelectrode positioned in said tube, said beam controlling electrode beingconnected to said second set of said electrodes, a plurality of manuallysettable devices connected to said second set of electrodes forcontrolling said beam through pre-selected electrodes thereof, and meansfor applying an initiating pulse to said auxiliary deflectors forinitiating the sweeping of the beam of said cathode ray =beam deviceover said electrodes for the production of a predetermined number ofelectrical pulses.

22. In a calculating device the combination of a cathode ray beam tube,said cathode ray beam tube having means for producing a cathode ray beamand main deflectormeansand a set ,of electrodes, said electrodes beingmounted in said cathode ray beam tube and being adapted to be sweptbythexbeam thereof to produce pulses, a sourceof potentialconnected tosaid main deflector plates through said electrodes so that predeterminedpotentials from said source are applied to said main deflectorstherethrough to elfect sweeping of the cathode ray beam from oneelectrode to the next, and settable means for quenching said beam aftera predetermined number of pulses as determined by said setta-ble meanshave been produced.

23. In a calculating machine, an electrical circuit including a cathoderay tube and a seriesof contact sets therein for closing by the electronbeam of saidtube for providing a pattern of output pulses forming 'arepresentation of digits from "1 to 9, said circuit also including meansfor causing movement of'said electron beam along said series of saidcontact sets and settable means for interrupting movement of saidelectron beam along said contact sets after a movement thereofcorresponding to the value of the digit to be represented? 24 In acalculating machine, an electrical circuit ineluding a cathode ray tubehaving a'first series ofcontact sets for closing by the electron beam ofsaid tube for providing a representation of digits from "1 to "9 and asecond series of contact sets arranged alternately with the first seriesof contact sets, and settable means connected to said second series ofcontacts for rendering any selected one of said contact sets effective,thecifcuit to the'contact of said second set selected by said settablemeans being adapted tobe closed by the electronbe'am to interruptoperation thereof, said circuit also including means for causingstep-by-step shifting of said electron beam along said series of saidcontact sets.

25. In a calculating machine, an electrical circuit including a cathoderay tube having a first series of contact sets for closing by theelectron beam of said't'ube for providing a representation of digitsfrom 1 to 9 and a second series of contact sets arranged alternatelywith the first series of contact sets for closing by the electron beam,a beam quenching electrode, a means including a plurality of keysrepresenting the digits from 1 to 9 for selectively connecting saidsecond series of contact sets 12 to said beam quenchingelectrode, saidcircuit also in cluding means for causing step by step shifting of saidelectron beam along said series of said contact sets, the

shifting of said beam being halted when said beam reaches a contact setof said second series connected to a closed key. I

26. In a calculating device the combination of a cath ode ray beam tube,said cathode ray beam tube having means for producing a cathode raybeam, auxiliary deflectorv means and main deflector means and aplurality of sets of electrodes, said plurality of sets of electrodescorresponding to the digits from 1 to 9, said electrodes being mountedin said cathode ray beam tube and being adapted to be swept by the beamthereof, a source of potential'conne'cted to said main deflector platesthrough one of the aforesaid sets of electrodes so that predeterminedpotentials from-said source are applied to said main deflectors throughsaid one set of the aforesaid electrodes, a beam controlling electrodepositioned iii-said tube, said beam controlling electrode being connectdto said other set of said electrodesLa 'pluralityofr' inanu allysettable devices representing values from 1 to 9 connected to said otherset of electrodes for controlling said beam through pre-selectedelectrodes of said other set, and means for applying an initiating pulseto said auxiliary deflector means for initiating the sweeping of thebeam of, said cathode ray beam device over said electrodes for theproduction of a predetermined number of electrical pulses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS JoelFeb. 21,

